THE VALUE OF BOOKS AND READING

Once upon a time, Nigeria paraded the best set of authors and publishers in Africa. At that time, reading was an innate affection for both young and old. This reading culture reflected so much on the quality of leadership and civil discipline that it brought pride to Nigerians anywhere in the world. Now, however, the rich literacy history the country was famous for has gradually eroded. Yes, reading and writing which were once indulged in as a pleasure are now often spurned as a chore.

One possible factor contributing to the poor book reading culture in Nigeria is perhaps our socio-economic environment is not reader-friendly. The daily struggle for economic survival provides little or no time for people to cultivate a good reading habit. Equally, high cost of books, particularly imported ones as well as a dearth of dedicated quiet reading spaces like libraries has contributed to low readership promotion in the country.

But why are books and reading important? Reading regularly is a way to mental health, which enhances emotional intelligence, helps with self-awareness, empathy, social skills and managing relationships more effectively. Reading also provides a therapeutic effect and inner tranquility, while also slowing mental decline. Thus the relationship between reading, knowledge acquisition, intelligence and personal development is crucial for economic and social development. A critical mode of thinking is lost in the absence of reading. The power of books can also be leveraged to combat isolation, reinforce ties between people, and expand our horizons, while stimulating our minds and creativity. 

Did you know that The Bible is the most widely translated and distributed book worldwide? Yes, the Bible is by far the most widely translated and distributed book! Its wisdom has reached and helped more people than any other book or publication. Some 96.5% of the world’s population have access to the Bible. The Bible is available (in whole or in part) in over 3,300 languages, and the estimated number of copies of the Bible produced is five billion, far more than any other book in history. 

Which other book(s) do you enjoy or have you enjoyed reading? As for me, one book I am currently enjoying reading is a 400 – 500 page health care handbook titled: “WHERE THERE IS NO DOCTOR,” authored by David Werner. It is a very valuable health care handbook that I have found to be very beneficial! In fact, this health care handbook has been fondly described by some as “the ‘Bible’ of health education,” and I strongly recommend that every family should have a copy of this book at home. Apart from this book, I also enjoy reading for pleasure children’s books, such as those I have found on: read.worldreader.org (now: booksmart.worldreader.org) and www.africanstorybook.org. What about you? What books have you enjoyed or do you enjoy reading?

In the last few decades, the Nigerian indigenous book publishing industry has experienced a downturn due to numerous challenges facing the industry, including: book piracy, proliferation of unqualified author-publishers, lack of capital, and inability to provide adequate numbers of high-quality books. Other challenges include: poor reading culture, infrastructural decay, dearth of expertise, incessant rancour among the major stakeholders, and so forth. 

Therefore, here are some suggestions for developing our book publishing industry in Nigeria:

 Stakeholders such as government, publishers, authors, regulators, booksellers, libraries, and readers should cooperate among themselves and contribute their quota immensely towards the development of a virile book publishing industry. 

Two, private investors such as banks, finance houses and influential individuals should participate, especially in terms of massive capital injection.

Three, government can partner with notable non-governmental organizations in the establishment of book clubs in our schools across the nation. This will help to promote a good reading culture among the youths.

Daniel Ighakpe, FESTAC Town, Lagos

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